DODDRIDGE, Ark.-Two hundred years ago, the rural countryside where the Sulphur and Red rivers meet in Southwest Arkansas served as home to a trading post that promoted trade between Native American tribes and others in the area.
This weekend, the Sulphur River Trading Post Days event honors this circa 1818 history with period re-enactors, vendors and more at Doddridge Community Park from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It's free and open to the public both days. It's open today for groups of students.
"It's basically a living history event," explained Sam Bumgardner, chairman of the Doddridge Community Development Council and a Miller County historical group that helped stage this event.
The U.S. military established the trading post, east of what's now Doddridge, at what's called the Sulphur Fork where tribes like the Caddo and Coushatta could trade, Bumgardner said. "We had a number of Indian groups in this area," he said, noting prairie grass grew on one side of this fork, with hilly land on the other.
"The Sulphur River in that day was known as the Bear River," Bumgardner recalled of this waterway's past. Bear, at the time, were plentiful in the area.
The Sulphur River Trading Post Days will see both re-enactors and several Native American tribes set up camp in the Doddridge park. These camps, along with flint knapping, blacksmithing, arrowhead grinding, demonstrations of muzzleloading and archery, soap making, quilt making and more, will transport visitors back in time to 1818.
"We've got a bunch of good demonstrations of that period," Bumgardner said. Food will be available to enjoy, too.
A 40-foot long keelboat, which could have hauled freight up and down a river like these, will be displayed. Artifacts from a Southern Arkansas University archaeological dig will also be shown during the trading post days.
"We actually have the records from the trading post, which was called a factory," Bumgardner said, calling the establishment of a trading post a win-win for both sides. It didn't last long, however, only about seven years, he said. Soldiers stayed there at the edge of what was considered Spanish territory.
"Actually, it was built also to prevent Spanish incursion," he said.
This is the type of history the Sulphur River Trading Post Days will recall. Choctaw demonstrations will include cooking, games and a living history talk. A world-renowned Caddo potter will attend, said Bumgardner.
He said that at the encouragement of Billy Nations at Historic Washington State Park, a community group came together to organize this trade days event.
"We've been working really, really hard for a year," Bumgardner said, noting the "wonderful cooperation in our community."
More than 500 students were scheduled to attend today.
"I hope everybody comes out, and I hope the weather holds," Bumgardner said.
(Doddridge Community Park is located at 9542 Arkansas Highway 160 in Doddridge. More info: call Sam Bumgardner at 903-824-3105.)